Container sealing machine



NOV. '14, 1944. R M. MERO v 2,362,840

' CONTAINER SEALING MACHINE Filed July so, 1942 5 J4 W WM This invention relates to container 'sealing'macontainer sealing machines of a known class. chinesand more particularly to machines of this ii -connection with which the invention may be class wherein means are-provided for a'djus'tembodied. The known parts shown include these ably spacing :a container supporting pad or the r with which novel means is cooperable for locklike and a cooperatively positioned container end ing'a container carrying pad and container end supporting chuck to adapt and adjust the -machuck in adjustably spaced relation. chine for sealing containers of different sizes. Referring first to the generally known struc- Some machines of this class heretofore known ture, :a fixed frame part I carries two roller bearin the art have included interengaging screwing assemblies 2 and 3 which journal a rotatthreaded adjusting elements connected respec 1Q, able assembly including a center column 4 and tively. to a container supporting pad and cona driving sleeve 5. The column 4 and sleeve 5 tainer end supporting chuck, the arrangement are keyedat 6 to rotate together but may be being such that relative rotation of the screwmoved longitudinally with respect to each other. threaded adjusting elements accompanied by A rotor 1 secured to the sleeve 5 by bolts, one relative longitudinal movement thereof serves-to of which is shown at 8, is formed with vertical vary-thespacingof the pad and chuck. An exguides for mounting a plurality of reciprocableample of a previously'known, construction of pads adapted to support cans while being moved this character is disclosed in the patent to Troyer around the center column 4 for being sealed in et al. No. 1,891,851; granted December 20,. 1932. any suitable manner. One of the guides is shown -'An object of the, invention is to provide a at 9 receiving a can supporting pad [0 equipped machine ofthe general class refer-red to 'includ-i at its lower'end with a roller ll" engaging a Patented Nov. 14, 1944 I j I I i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. f nf2 ,362,840 v ooN'rAnvER-sn ING MACHINE Ralph; M. Mjero, Chicago, 111., assignor to Continental Can Company; Inc., New York, N. Y.,

I. a corporation of ,New York g Application July 30, 1942, Serial No. 452,956

' fl-Claims. gol. 113-24) ing an improved and simple means-for locking frame-mounted cam I2. When the sleeve 5 rothescrew-threaded adjusting means in adjusted tates-the roller I] will be moved vertically by position. the cam l2 to-raise the can and the pad III to Another object of the invention is to provide sealin po i n a machine of the character referred to in which A seaming head i3 is secured to the center collocking of the partsin adjustedpositions isac-. umn 4' by a nut 14 and key l5 so as to rotate complished by causing the threads of the 5 adwith and tobe'held in fixed position vertically 'justing members to bind upon one another; with respect to the center column. The head I3 .A further object of the invention is to'pro-'v mounts aplu'rali tylofcan end support chuck units vide a container sealing machine of the -1kind disposed respectively above the pads l0 previousreferred to including a locking screw rotatable 1y referred to; one of the chuck units being shown in unison .with but movable axiallywithrespect at IS. The chuck-unit, shown as being provided to one of the adjusting members and having with aknockout pad or ejector l1, may be opthreaded connection with the other of thead- 3 eratedby any suitable mechanism (not shown). justing members, means being provided for mov- The sleeve 5 and center column 4 are rotated I ing the locking'screw axiallywith respect to its together by power supplied by a gear 18 driven companion member to cause the interengagingby means (not shown). The gear IB-meshes with threads of the adjusting -members to =.bind.. a ring gear I!) to which is attacheda clutch mem- Other objects Of the invention will become ber 20 held concentric with the sleeve 5 by a ball apparent from a reading of the following debearing assembly 2l' anchored in aclutchmemscription, the appended claims and 'the,,accomber 22 keyedat 23 to the sleeve 5. 'A housing 24 anying drawing. v I r secured to the clutch member 23 by bolts 25 is 'I the drawing: r I q a formed withv pockets 26' receivingjsprin gs' 21 Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section which press an annular clutch niemb'er'28 against showing'screw threaded adjusting means for varithe bottom or ,the clutch member 20. ably spacing a container supporting pad. and In operation, rotation of the gears l8 and I9 container end chuckequipped with adjusting and will'drive the sleeve 5 through the clutch memlocking means embodying the inventionin'a pre-- ber28, the housing 24 and the clutch member 22. ferredform. I A gear 25 keyed at 30 to the clutch member 22 Figure 2 i513. bottom plan view of a locking meshes with'a gear 3| which may lbe arranged to screw, and ,7 driveother mechanism (not shown) which is not Figure. 3 is an elevation of the locking screw. part of the mechanism embodying the invention. The drawing illustrating the invention in one In order to condition the machine for receiving form, shows only certainoi theknown partsof 5 andsealing cans of different sizes, the center col- 31 is adapted to receive a socket wrench or 'reversible mechanism for rotating the adjusting screw 32 relative to the column 4 maybe similar to mechanism disclosed in the patent to Troyer et al. No. 1,891,851, previously referred to. As shown a worm wheel 35 keyed at 36 to the adjusting screw 32 meshes with a worm 31 journaled in the housing 24. A square end 38 on the worm suitable socketed handle by which the worm may be turned to rotate the worm wheel and the adjust- I ing screw ment.

In operation, the sleeve 5 with the. parts connected thereto including the pads 43 and the center column 4 with the parts connected thereto including the chucks [6, will rotate together.

In accordance with the present invention, releasa'ble means are provided for locking the screw-threaded adjusting means 32-33 in adjusted position so as to maintain the pads l0 and chucks Hi properly positioned to handle cans of the size for which the machine is adjusted. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a

32 so as to effect the desired adjust- .locking screw 39 has threaded connection with the threads 33 of the center column 4. The screw 39 is formed with a projection having a noncircular portion 40 which extends into a correspondingly shaped recess 41 in the upper end of the adjusting screw 32. The locking screw 39 is thus constrained against rotation with respect to the adjusting screw 32 but the clearance between the projecting portion 40- and the recess 4| is sufficient to permit relative axial or longitudinal movement between the screws 32 and 39.

A rod or bolt 42 has a reduced upper end .portion 43 extending coaxially through the locking screw .39 to which. it is keyed as at 44. A nut 45 screwthreaded on the projecting end of the reduced portion 43 holds the locking screw 39 tightly against a shoulder at the juncture of the reduced portion 43 of the rod and the rodproper. The rod extends down through t e axial opening in the adjusting screw 32 and through an opening46 in a cap 41 secured to the housing 24 by screws 48. The lower end portion 49 of the rod is threaded to receive a releasable clamping nut 50 which can be tightened against the abutment provided by the cap 4'! to draw the locking screw and adjusting screw relatively together.

Th clamping means is operable during engagement of the screw threaded adjusting means 4 and 32 with each other and during engagement of the locking screw 39 with the threads 33 of the column 4 selectively for exerting a force urging the locking screw 39 axially with respect to the adjusting screw 32 to eifect binding between the threads of the screw 32 and the threads 33 on the column 4'; or for discontinuin the exertion of such force so as to discontinue substantially completely the binding between the threads of the adjusting screw 32 and the threads 33. Thus, when it is desired to rotate the screw 32 relatively to the center column 4 for adjusting the chucks l6 vertically with respect to the pads In, the clamping nut 50 is loosened and the worm 31 is turned to rotate the adjusting screw 32 relatively to the center column 4. While the adjusting screw is being rotated the locking screw 39 will turn with it freely in contact with the center column threads 33. In order to lock the parts in adjusted positions, the nut 50 is tightened, thus pulling the rod 42 downwardly and drawing the adjusting screw 32 and locking screw 39 relatively towards each other. This will cause the threads on the screws 32 and 39 to'bind against the center column threads 33, thereby securing the center column 4 and adjusting screw 32 against relative turning.

The construction disclosed herein embodies the invention in the now preferred form but it will be understood that changes may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for sealing cans, means for supporting a can, means for supporting a can end in cooperative position relative to a supported can, two interengaging screw-threaded adjusting means connected to said can support ing means and to said can end supporting means respectively for variably spacing said two supporting meansfrom each other, screw-threaded locking means rotatable in unison with and movable axially with respect to one of said screw-threaded adjusting means and having threaded connection with the other of said screw-threaded adjusting means, and releasable means including a manipulatable element positioned to be accessible at a point remote from said screw-threaded locking means and being adjustable during engagement of said screw-threaded adjusting means with each other and during engagement of said screw-threaded locking means with said other of said screw-threaded adjusting means for selectively exerting a force urging said screwthreaded locking means axially with respect to said one of said screw-threaded adjustingmeans to effect binding between the threads of said two screw-threaded adjusting means or for discontinuing the exertion of said force to thereby discontinue substantially completely the binding between the threads of said screw threaded adjusting means.

2. In a machine for sealing cans, means for supporting a can, means for supporting a can end in cooperative position relative to a supported can, two interengaging screw-threaded adjusting means connected to said can supporting means and to said can end supporting means respectively for variably spacing said two supporting means from each other, screw-threaded.

locking means rotatable in unison with and movable axially with respect to one of said screwthreaded adjusting means and having threaded connection. with the other of said screw-threaded adjusting means, means screw-threaded locking means son with said one of said screw-threaded ading means and said screw-threaded locking 3. ma machine for sealing cans, means for supporting a can. a means for supporting a can end 1n cooperative position relative to a sup- I connection with the other of said ed adjusting means,

son with said one of said ported can, two interengaging screw-threaded adjusting means connected to said can supporting means and to said can end supporting means respectively for variably spacing said two supporting means from each other, screw-threaded locking means rotatable in unison with and movable axially. with respect to one of said screwthreaded'adjusting means and having threaded screw-threadmeans constraining said means to rotate in uniscrew-threaded adjusting means, and clamping means for releasably drawing said one of said screw-threaded adjusting means and said screw-threaded locking means axially towards each other, said clamping means including a fixed abutment, a rod anchored to said screw-threadedlocking means and extending therefrom parallel to the axis of said two screw-threaded adjusting means and having a portion projecting through and beyond said abutment and a nut having threaded connection screw-threaded looking with the projecting portion of said rod and engaging said abutment.

4'. In a machine for sealing cans, means for supporting a can, means for supporting a can end in cooperative position relative to a supported can, two interengaging screw-threaded adjusting means connected to said can supporting means and to said can end supporting means respectively for variably spacing saidtwo supporting means from each other, means for effecting relative rotation of said two screw-threaded adjusting means, screw-threaded locking means rotatable in unison with and movable axially with respect to one of said screw-threaded adjusting means and having threaded connection with the other of said screw-threaded adjusting means,

supporting means and to said can end supporting means for variably spacing said two support ingmeans from each other, said inner screwthreaded adjusting means being formed with an and releasable means including a manipulatable element positioned to be accessible at a point remote from said screw-threadedlocking means and being adjustable during engagement of said screw-threaded adjusting means with each other and during engagement of said screw-threaded locking means with said other of said screwthreaded adjusting means for selectively exerting \a force urging said screw-threaded locking means axially with respect to said one ofsaid screw-threadedadjusting meansto efiect binding between the threads of said two screwthreaded adjusting means or for discontinuing the exertion of said force to thereby discontinue substantially completely the binding between the threads of said screw-threaded adjusting means.

5. In a machine for sealing cans, means for supporting a. can, means for supporting a can end in cooperaitve position relative to a supported can, inner and outer interengaging screwthreaded adjusting means connectedto said can axial opening, an abutment, means connecting said abutment to said inner screw-threaded adjusting means and maintaining said abutment and said inner screw-theraded adjusting means against relative movement axially of said inner screw-threaded adjusting means, a locking screw having threaded connection with said outer screw-threaded adjusting means, means connecting said locking screw to said inner screw-threaded locking means to rotate in unison therewith and to be movable axially relatively thereto, a clamping rod connected to said locking screw and extending through said axial opening and projecting through and beyond said abutment, and releasable clamping means cooperable with said abutment and the projecting end of said rod for forcing said rod axially relatively to said inner screw-threaded adjusting means to thereby effect relative axial movement between'said looking screw and said inner screw-threaded adjusting means with resultant effecting of binding between the threads of said two screw-threaded adjusting means.

6. In a machine for sealing cans, means for supporting a can, means for supporting a can end in cooperative position relaitve to a supported can, an internally threaded member connected to said can end supporting means, an externally threaded adjusting screw connected to said can supporting means and having threaded engagement with said internally threaded member, means for rotating said adjusting screw for efiecting relative axial movement between said,

internally threaded member and said adjusting screw, an abutment, means connecting said abutment to said adjusting screw to maintain said abutment and said adjusting screw against relative movement axially of said adjusting screw, a locking screw having threaded said internally threaded member, means connecting said locking screw to said adjusting screw to rotate in unison therewith and to be movable axially relatively thereto, a clamping rod connected to said locking screw and extending axially through said adjusting screw and through said abutment and having a threaded end projecting beyond said abutment, and a clamping nut on the threaded end of said rod releasably screwed against said abutment for drawing the rod axially to move said locking screw relatively to said adjusting screw and to thereby efie'ct binding between the threads of said internally threaded member and said adjusting screw.

RALPH M. IVLERO.

engagement with 

